November 16, 2009

This edition of recall roundup should be noticed especially by owners of the Dodge Nitro and Jeep Wrangler.

A total of 84,680 MY2007 Dodge Nitros are affected by a possible wiper system failure caused by prolonged usage of the variable pause function. As you can imagine, inoperable wipers are a bad thing when cruising in bad weather.

Next up are 161,450 MY2007 through MY2008 Jeep Wranglers built between June 2006 and July 2008 with automatic transmissions. Unfortunately, the Jeeps didn't come standard with a transmission fluid temperature warning system and as such, the fluid may boil with high usage. Should it contact the engine, a fire may occur.

Summary: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 DODGE NITRO PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM MAY EXPERIENCE A CONDITION OVER TIME WHERE HIGH USAGE OF THE VARIABLE PAUSE WIPER FUNCTION (?DELAY? MODE) MAY EVENTUALLY AFFECT PRIMARY WIPER FUNCTION, RENDERING THE WIPER SYSTEM INOPERABLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ADD EXTERNAL RELAYS AND UPDATE THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE SOFTWARE TO CONTROL THE WIPER FUNCTIONS. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-835-1403.

Summary: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2008 JEEP WRANGLER MANUFACTURE BETWEEN JUNE 2006 THROUGH JULY 2008 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE WARNING SYSTEM.

Consequence: FLUID COULD BOIL OVER AND MAY COME INTO CONTACT WITH A HOT ENGINE OR EXHAUST COMPONENT AND CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL A "HOTOIL" MESSAGE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND A CHIME INDICATING AN ELEVATED TRANSMISSION FLUID CONDITION. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-835-1403.